Understanding the molecular basis of the gene-regulatory networks underlying agronomic traits or plant responses to abiotic/biotic stresses is very important for crop improvement. In this context, transcription factors, which either singularly or in conjugation directly control the expression of many target genes, are suitable candidates for improving agronomic traits via genetic engineering. In this regard, members of one of the largest class of plant-specific APETALA2/Ethylene Response Factor (AP2/ERF) superfamily, which is implicated in various aspects of development and plant stress adaptation responses, are considered high-value targets for crop improvement. Besides their long-known regulatory roles in mediating plant responses to abiotic stresses such as drought and submergence, the novel roles of AP2/ERFs during fruit ripening or secondary metabolites production have also recently emerged. The astounding functional plasticity of AP2/ERF members is considered to be achieved by their interplay with other regulatory networks and signalling pathways. In this review, we have integrated the recently accumulated evidence from functional genomics studies and described their newly emerged functions in plants. The key structural features of AP2/ERF proteins and the modes of their action are briefly summarized. The importance of AP2/ERFs in plant development and stress responses and a summary of the event of their successful applications in crop improvement programs are also provided. Altogether, we envisage that the synthesized information presented in this review will be useful to design effective strategies for improving agronomic traits in crop plants.

中文翻译：

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APETALA2 /乙烯反应因子的扩展作用及其在作物改良中的潜在应用。

了解潜在的农艺性状或植物对非生物/生物胁迫的响应的基因调控网络的分子基础对于作物改良非常重要。在这种情况下，单独地或结合地直接控制许多靶基因表达的转录因子是用于通过基因工程改善农艺性状的合适候选物。在这方面，涉及植物发育和植物胁迫适应性反应各个方面的最大的植物特异性APETALA2 /乙烯反应因子（AP2 / ERF）超家族成员之一被认为是作物改良的高价值目标。除了在调节植物对非生物胁迫（例如干旱和淹没）的反应中发挥着长期的调节作用外，最近还出现了AP2 / ERF在果实成熟或次生代谢产物生产中的新作用。AP2 / ERF成员惊人的功能可塑性被认为是通过它们与其他监管网络和信号通路的相互作用实现的。在这篇综述中，我们综合了功能基因组学研究中最近积累的证据，并描述了它们在植物中的新出现功能。简要总结了AP2 / ERF蛋白的关键结构特征及其作用方式。还提供了AP2 / ERF在植物发育和胁迫响应中的重要性，以及它们在作物改良计划中成功应用的总结。共，